Los Angeles: Floss Silk Tree

Floss Silk Tree (Chorisia speciosa) is a native of South America and grows well in California. It is a popular ornamental tree in Los Angeles and lines many streets. The trunks are thick and green, and covered with spiny thorns. In the Fall, the tree produces hibiscus-like flowers that are creamy-white in the center and bright pink on the outside. When the flowers die, they are replaced with large green mango-shaped fruits that are filled with white silky material that is used for stuffing cushions in South America.

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Spiny trunk

Fruits of floss-silk

Pink, pink, pink!

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All photos are ©2005 Kathryn Hill Photography.